Locking and folding assembly for attachment to a bucket or other container

ABSTRACT

A leg assembly capable of easy attachment to a container, having an elongated leg and a bracket, where the bracket contains a mounting pocket, two slots, substantially parallel to one another, and wherein at one end of the bracket there is disposed an L-shaped flange, and wherein the elongated leg contains a pin on each side of an end of the leg, and mounted so that the leg may rotate in the mounting pocket of the bracket, and wherein the leg has an outward protruding pin sized and shaped to fit into the two parallel recesses, and wherein the pin is formed on a flexible arm on the leg capable of being depressed to move the pin inward.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/590,488, filed May 9, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/333,359, filed May 9, 2016, thedisclosure content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a leg assembly which is capable of easy,secure attachment to a bucket or other container and which is capable ofassuming a down-locked position, in which the leg is extended downwardto support a bottom of a bucket above and off the ground or floor, andan up folded position, in which the leg is folded upward against a sideof the bucket so that the bottom of the bucket or the bottom of the legassembly can sit directly on the ground or floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although buckets and pails are widely available inexpensively fromhardware stores, in use, these buckets and pails are placed on theground or floor. Thus, if a user wants to retrieve an item in the bottomof the bucket or pail, the user must bend down to reach the item in thebottom of the bucket or pail. If the items are repeatedly retrieved,such bending down for retrieval can become tiresome. An example of suchmultiple items that might be placed in a bucket for repeated retrievalare baseballs or tennis balls. Another example would be paint orcleaning liquid. Bending down to reach into a bucket can be minimized ifthe height of the bucket is raised. If a bucket or container is placedon top of an available support of some kind to raise the bucket off ofthe ground or floor, if the bucket is to be moved, the support must alsobe moved. Also, if paint or a cleaning liquid is placed in the bucket,the liquid could spoil the support.

Prior legs have required an attachment mechanism that damages the bucketor requires a retaining ring or other device to secure to the bucket.These features add cost, add weight, and may damage the bucket beingsupported. Accordingly, these devices have not met commercial success,despite the fact that buckets are ubiquitous in many industries, andthat such a device would benefit all users of buckets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises embodiments directed to a leg assemblycapable of easy, secure attachment to a bucket or other container and iscapable of assuming a down-locked position, in which the leg of the legassembly is extended downward to support a bottom of a bucket above andoff the ground, and an up-folded position, in which the leg is foldedupward against a side of the bucket so that the bottom of the bucket orthe bottom of the mounting bracket sits directly on the ground.

The leg assembly has two parts, an elongated leg and a substantiallyU-shaped mounting bracket. In each side of the bracket, there is amounting pocket in which a pin disposed on each side of an end of theleg is mounted so that the leg may rotate in the bracket. At one end ofbracket, there is an L-shaped flange with a protruding tab. This flangeand tab are sized and shaped to support the bottom of a bucket and tograsp a rim at the bottom of the bucket. An adhesive layer is used toattach the side of bracket to the bucket's outer side. The bracket hastwo slots, and at least one slot has a recess. The leg has an outwardprotruding pin on one side of the leg which is sized, positioned andshaped to fit into the recess. The pin is formed on a flexible armformed in the leg so that the arm can be depressed to move the pininward.

To move the leg into the down locked position, the leg is rotated,thereby sliding the pin on the leg into the slot and recess in the sideof the bracket. To move the leg from the down locked position into theup folded position, the flexible arm tab is depressed until the pin isno longer protruding into the recess, and the leg is rotated until thepin slides into the other slot in the side of the bracket.

The leg assembly of the present provides an inexpensive, simple tooperate, easily portable, and reliable way to securely elevate a bucketfrom the ground or a floor, while also providing a way to compactly foldthe legs during storage of the bucket with the attached legs or when itis desired to place the bottom of the bucket directly on the ground or afloor. By providing that the legs can be locked in the down position,the likelihood is substantially reduced that the legs will collapseshould the bucket be jarred. Additionally, by using an adhesive layer toattach the leg assembly to the bucket rather than nuts and bolts or aframe around the bucket, assembly is easy, and the integrity of thebucket will not be compromised. Because any number of leg assemblies canbe used, the size, shape and weight of the bucket or container to besupported by the leg assembly of the present invention is not limited.

Furthermore, when the leg is locked into the down position, the leg isangled away from the direct force of the bucket on the flange. Thisdirects the force to the flange and forces the edge of the bracketagainst the bucket, thus assisting in maintaining the bracket to thebucket.

In a further embodiment, the invention is directed towards a legassembly comprising two parts, an elongated leg and a substantiallyU-shaped mounting bracket; wherein, each side of the bracket comprises amounting pocket, two slots, substantially parallel to one another and atleast one slot has a recess, wherein at one end of the bracket, there isan L-shaped flange with a protruding tab; wherein said flange and tabare sized and shaped to support the bottom of a bucket and to grasp arim at the bottom of the bucket; wherein the elongated leg comprises apin disposed on each side of an end of the leg is mounted so that theleg may rotate within the mounting pocket in the bracket; wherein theleg has an outward protruding pin on one side of the leg, which issized, positioned, and shaped to fit into the two parallel recesses; andwherein said pin is formed on a flexible arm formed on the leg and canbe depressed to move the pin inward.

A further embodiment is directed to a leg assembly comprising two parts,an elongated leg and a substantially U-shaped mounting bracket; wherein,each side of the bracket comprises a mounting pocket, a surface facingside, two slots, substantially parallel to one another and at least oneslot has a recess, wherein at one end of the bracket, there is anL-shaped flange with a protruding tab; wherein said flange and tab aresized and shaped to support the bottom of a container; wherein theelongated leg comprises a pin disposed on each side of an end of the legis mounted so that the leg may rotate within the mounting pocket in thebracket; wherein the leg has an outward protruding pin on one side ofthe leg, which is sized, positioned, and shaped to fit into the twoparallel recesses; and wherein said pin is formed on a flexible armformed on the leg and can be depressed to move the pin inward.

In certain embodiments, the mounting pocket and the surface facing sideare not parallel to one another. Accordingly, to accommodate the leg toallow for compact storage in the up position, the elongated legcomprises an inflection point.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are intended solely for purposes of illustration and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should bemade to the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals delineate similarelements throughout the several views:

FIGS. 1A and 1B shows the leg assembly of the present invention in thedown-locked position and the up-folded position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the leg assembly.

FIGS. 3A and 3B provide opposite perspective drawing of the bracketportion of the leg assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional drawing of the bracket portion and legportion of the leg assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 6 shows three leg assemblies of the present invention in thedown-locked position and attached to a bucket.

FIG. 7 shows three leg assemblies of the present invention in theup-folded position and attached to a bucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1A, the leg assembly has two parts, an elongated leg 1and a substantially U-shaped mounting bracket 2. In FIG. 1A, the leg 1,which is rotatably mounted in bracket 2, is shown in the down-lockedposition, and in FIG. 6, the leg assembly is shown attached to a bucket3 with the leg 1 in bracket 2 in the down locked position. In FIG. 1B,the leg 1 is shown in the up folded position, and in FIG. 7, the legassembly is shown attached to a bucket 3 with the leg 1 in bracket 2 inthe up folded position. The length of leg 1 is selected to beappropriate for the particular intended use. Thus, if the intended userequires that the bottom of the bucket 3 be 15″ above the ground orfloor, leg 1 is about 15″ in length. For other bucket heights, thelength of leg 1 is appropriately sized in length, or the leg may beadjustable in length to allow for adjustment based on the needs of theparticular user.

As is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the leg comprises a bracket end 27, astanding end 26, and an inflection point 25 on the leg. The inflectionpoint 25 results in the standing end 26 being narrower than the bracketend 27, and allows the leg to engage to a bucket when in the upposition, as detailed in FIG. 7. Further details in FIGS. 2A and 2B arethe mounting pins 7, which engage to a mounting pocket 6 in the bracket2. Further depicted is the arm 13, while FIG. 2B specifically detailsthe pin 12 on the arm 13, and a protruding tab 14.

As shown in FIG. 3A, bracket 2 is substantially U-shaped in crosssection, having two sides 4, 5. In each side 4, 5, there is a mountingpocket 6 in which a mounting pin 7, disposed on each side of an end ofthe leg 1, is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Mounting of themounting pins 7 of leg 1 into the two pockets 6 allows leg 1 to rotatein bracket 2.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the opposite side of the bracket 2 contains theslots 10 and 11, for receiving the pin 12. Further depicted in FIG. 3Bis the depth of the bracket 2. For example, at the end having flange 8,the bracket has a wider width 21 than the width 20 at the opposing end.This width angles the mounting pocket slightly when attached to abucket. This angle forces the bucket legs away from the bucket, asdepicted by the angle 31 in FIG. 6. Furthermore, when the leg 1, isfolded in the up position, the angle necessitates the inflection point25, to allow for the leg to sit nearly flush to the bucket.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, on the side of bracket 2 that connectssides 4, 5, and at one end of bracket 2, there is an L-shaped flange 8with a protruding tab. This flange 8 and its tab are sized and shaped tosupport the bottom of the bucket 3 and to grasp a rim at the bottom ofthe bucket 3, as discussed below. An adhesive layer 9 is attached to thesurface facing side of bracket 2 that connects sides 4, 5. Adhesivelayer 9 may be in the form of a tape with adhesive on both sides, aglue, cement or other adhesive, plastic weld, or metal weld, and half ofa hook and loop material, or combinations thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, bracket 2 has two slots 10, 11, one near each endof bracket 2. The slots are formed into one side 5 of bracket. One slot10 has a recess 10 a which renders a portion of the slot 10 deeper thanthe remainder of the slot 10. The leg 1, having an outward protrudingpin 12 on one side of leg 1, engages to such slots 10 and 11. Pin 12 hasa diameter smaller than the width of slots 10, 11 and slightly smallerthan the diameter of recess 10 a. Pin 12 is formed on a flexible arm 13,formed in leg 1. Arm 13 is formed in leg 1 so that it can be depressedand thereby move pin 12 inward. An outward protruding tab 14 is formedin arm 13 to indicate where a user may press arm 13.

The leg assembly is attachable to a container, such as a bucket 3 by theadhesive layer 9 on the side of bracket 2 that connects sides 4, 5. Ifthe adhesive layer 9 is one portion of a hook and loop strip, anopposite side of the strip is attached at an appropriate position nearthe bottom the bucket 3. The protruding tab of the L-shaped flange 8 atan end of the bracket 2 grabs a rim at the bottom of the bucket 3, whilethe reminder of the L-shaped flange 8 supports the weight of the bucket3. As the lip of the bottom of the bucket sits within the L-shapedflange 8, the weight of the bucket is applied to this L-shaped flange 8.Furthermore, as the forces press down on the L-shaped flange 8, the legangle 31, as depicted in FIG. 6, further presses the bracket 2 towardsthe container. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 9, does not need tosupport the weight of the bucket, it is provided to simply maintain thebracket 2 adjacent to the bucket 3.

When leg 1 is mounted into bracket 2 (either attached to a container ornot), leg 1 can easily transition from the up folded position shown inFIGS. 1B and 7 to the down locked position shown in FIGS. 1A and 6, andvice versa. When in the up folded position shown in FIGS. 1B and 7, pin12 is positioned in slot 11. To move leg 1 into the down locked positionshown in FIGS. 1A and 6, leg 1 is rotated about pins 7, thereby slidingpin 12 out of slot 11 into slot 10 and recess 10 a. When pin 12 entersrecess 10 a, leg 1 is locked into the down locked position. To move leg1 from the down locked position shown in FIGS. 1A and 6 into the upfolded position shown in FIGS. 1B and 7, tab 14 is depressed until pin12 is no longer protruding into recess 10 a, and leg 1 is rotated aboutpins 7, until pin 12 slides into slot 11.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, leg 1 is preferably shaped so that, inthe down locked position, leg 1 is directed slightly outward at angle31, relative to bucket 3 to provide a more stable support arrangement.Furthermore, the slightly outward position allows the forces from theweight of the bucket to be applied to the L-shaped flange 8, whichsupports the weight of the bucket. Additionally, leg I is preferablyshaped so that, in the up-fold position, the end 26 of leg 1 does notinterfere with any ribbing on the outside upper edge of bucket 3 toprovide a more compact assembly. This is created by inflection 25, whichreduces the width of the end 26 as compared to the bracket end 27 of theleg.

Leg 1 and bracket 2 are preferably formed of a plastic material tominimize manufacturing costs, although these elements may also be formedof a metal, wood, or composites, or other natural or synthetic material.

By using hook and loop strips to attach the leg assembly 1, 2 to thebucket 3, the leg assembly can be removed from the bucket afterattachment. However, other suitable fasteners, including adhesives,double sided tape, and the like can be utilized.

Although FIGS. 6 and 7 show three leg assemblies attached to a bucket,more than three leg assemblies may be used depending upon the size andshape of the container to which the leg assemblies are attached. Indeed,in larger commercial applications, the legs can be easily added tosupport a structure, with a leg on multiple legs on each side of acontainer.

Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed outfundamental novel features of the present invention as applied to apreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of thedevices described and illustrated, and in their operation may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. For example, it is expressly intended that allcombinations of those elements which perform substantially the samefunction in substantially the same way to achieve the same results arewithin the scope of the invention.

Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another arealso fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood thatthe drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but that they are merelyconceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited onlyas indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A leg assembly comprising two parts, a first partbeing an elongated leg and a second part being a substantially U-shapedmounting bracket having a left and right sides, a surface facing side, atop end and a bottom end; wherein, the left and right sides of thebracket comprises a mounting pocket, two slots which are substantiallyparallel to one another and, wherein at least one of the two slots has arecess, wherein at the bottom end of the bracket, there is an L-shapedflange positioned on the surface facing side, with a protruding tab atthe end of said flange; wherein the elongated leg comprises a pindisposed on opposing sides of an end of the leg is mounted so that theleg may rotate within the mounting pocket in the bracket; wherein theleg has an outward protruding pin on one of the opposing sides of theleg, which is sized, positioned, and shaped to fit into the two slots;and wherein said outward protruding pin is formed on a flexible armformed on the leg, the flexible arm can be depressed to move the outwardprotruding pin inward.
 2. The leg assembly of claim 1, wherein themounting bracket has a surface facing external side and wherein themounting pocket is not parallel with the surface facing external side ofthe bracket.
 3. The leg assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated legcomprises an inflection point.
 4. The leg assembly of claim 1, wherinthe difference in the length between the top end and the bottom endcreates an angled face for the surface facing side, as compared to themounting pocket.
 5. A leg assembly comprising two parts, the first partbeing an elongated leg and the second part being a substantiallyU-shaped mounting bracket; wherein, each side of the bracket comprises amounting pocket, a surface facing side, two slots, substantiallyparallel to one another and at least one of the two slots has a recess,wherein at one end of the bracket, there is an L-shaped flange with aprotruding tab at the end of said L-shaped flange; wherein said flangeis defined to support a bottom of a container and said protruding tabsecuring around a rim on the bottom of a container; wherein theelongated leg comprises a pin disposed on opposing sides of an end ofthe leg and is mounted wherein the leg may rotate within the mountingpocket in the bracket; wherein the leg has an outward protruding pin onone the opposing sides of the leg, which is sized, positioned, andshaped to fit into the two slots; and wherein said outward protrudingpin is formed on a flexible arm formed on the leg, the flexible arm canbe depressed to move the pin inward.
 6. The leg assembly of claim 5,wherein the bracket comprises a top end and a bottom end, and the topend is shorter than the bottom end, creating an angled surface facingface in comparison to the mounting pocket.
 7. The leg assembly of claim6, wherein the elongated leg comprises an inflection point.
 8. The legassembly of claim 1, further comprising a bucket, said bucket comprisinga rim on the bottom of said bucket, said rim being engaged between saidL-shaped flange and said protruding tab.
 9. The leg assembly of claim 1,wherein each side of said bracket is wider at one end than the opposingend; and wherein said L-shaped flange is positioned on the wider end ona surface facing side, oriented away from the opening of the U-shapedmounting bracket.
 10. The leg assembly of claim 5, further comprising acontainer, said container comprising a rim on the bottom of saidcontainer, said rim being engaged between said L-shaped flange and saidprotruding tab.
 11. The leg assembly of claim 5, wherein each side ofsaid bracket is wider at one end than the opposing end; and wherein saidL-shaped flange is positioned on the wider end on a surface facing side,oriented away from the opening of the U-shaped mounting bracket.
 12. Acontainer assembly comprising a bucket, an elongated leg and asubstantially U-shaped mounting bracket; said U-shaped mounting bracketcomprising a top end and a bottom end, a left and right sides, each ofthe left and right side of the mounting bracket comprises an outer faceand an inner face, and on said inner face is disposed a mounting pocket,two slots, substantially parallel to one another and at least one of thetwo slots has a recess, and wherein each side is wider at one endcreating an angled orientation, said U-shaped bracket further comprisinga surface facing side, said surfacing facing side comprising an L-shapedflange positioned at the bottom end of the surface facing side with aprotruding tab at the end of said flange disposed on the wider end ofsaid bracket on said surface facing side; wherein said flange and tabare sized and shaped to support a bottom of said bucket wherein saidL-shaped flange and said protruding tab grasp a rim at the bottom of thebucket between said L-shaped flange and said protruding tab; wherein theelongated leg comprises a pin disposed on opposing sides of an end ofthe leg is mounted so that the leg may rotate within the mounting pocketin the bracket; wherein the leg has an outward protruding pin on one ofthe opposing sides of the leg, which is sized, positioned, and shaped tofit into the two slots; and wherein said outward protruding pin isformed on a flexible arm formed on the leg, the flexible arm can bedepressed to move the outward protruding pin inward.